Electric-circuit connector



(No Model.)

T. I. NEVINS. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONNECTOR.

Patented Jan. 14

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS F. NEVINS, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

ELECTRlC-CIRCLHT CONNECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,014, dated January14, 1896.

Application filed May 16,1895. Serial No. 549,497. (No model.)

To all 1071 0711, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. NEVINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brook lyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-CircuitConnections, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved electric-circuit connection in whicha removable connector is inserted into a rotatable cut-out block and theobject of the same is to furnish a device of novel and simpleconstruction, which can be adapted for use with portable electric lamps,small sized motors in houses, on shipboard, and with similar devices andin like places.

My invention consists in a casing in which the leading-in wires areconnected to bindingposts of spring-contacts, which act on and formcontact with a ratchet-toothed cut-out block journaled in the casing andprevent retrograde movement of the block, the cover of the casing beingprovided with an opening inclosed by an annular neck having an internalannular groove as well as diametricallyopposite guide-grooves that openinto the annular groove from the edge of the neck, while the lamp, motoror the like has at the ends of its flexible conducting cords or wires aconnector provided with diametrically-opposite studs which can beentered into the said guide-grooves so as to permit the plug portion ofthe connector, which has diametricallyopposite conducting-stripsconnected with the wires of the lamp, to engage in a central socket inthe rotatable cut-out block, which is provided withdiametrically-opposite metallic contacts that extend from thecircumference of the blockto the inside of the socket.

The main feature in a construction as just stated is that the connectorcan be rotated by its studs engaging in the annular groove in the neckon the casing in one direction, causing the contact-pieces on thecut-out block to establish by a quarter-rotation of the block electricalconnection with the spring contacts, so that the connector cannot bewithdrawn either by design or accident, by reason of the studs beingengaged in the groove, until a further forward quarter-rotation is givento the block and connector and the studs caused to again register withthe opposite guide-grooves of the neck. When the connector is removedfrom the casing, the opening is closed by screwing a cap, which isattached by a chain to the casing, onto the neck.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showingthe main wires electrically connected with the lamp or auxiliary wires.Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved device. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe device with the covering detached, the plug of the connector,however, being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section 011 line4. a, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 and Fig. 5 is abroken detail perspective View of the screw-neck.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The leading-in wires of the main circuit are lettered A A, and those ofthe lamp, motor, &C., B B.

O is the casing or box, of rectangular or other suitable shape, andprovided with a removable cover 0 aflixed to the same by screws C Theleading-in wires A A are led into the box through suitablestufling-boxes and are attached at their inner ends to binding posts (Zd, respectively, which are mounted in an insulator-block D fastened tothe bottom of the casing. The binding-posts d d are arranged at oppositesides of a cut-out block E, which is rotatable 011 a post c projectingfrom the insulator-block D, and they pass through foot-flanges of thespring-contacts F F,Which are provided with curved ends that engageopposite sides of the cut-out block. The cutout block is provided withfour ratchet-teeth e that extend in the same general direction, so thatthe ends of the spring-contacts may take against the radial faces of anytwo of the teeth and prevent retrograde rotation of the cut-out block,While they ride over the curved surfaces of the teeth when the block isturned in forward direction. The cut-out block is made of insulatingmaterial and is provided with a central rectangular socket e forreceiving the end of the connector hereinafter described.

Metallic contact-pieces e e are disposed at diametrically opposite sidesof the out out block, their inner ends terminating in the socket e andtheir outer ends extending over onto the curved faces of oppositeratchet-teeth 6, so that two of the latter bear an electricalcontact-surface, while the other two do not.

The connector G is attached to the ends of the lamp or motor wires B B,the same being provided with an annular shoulder g and a pin g portion9, which is of rectangular tapering form. The connector is made whollyor partly of insulating material, so that there will be no directelectrical connection or shortcircuiting between the metallic contact-strips 9 connected with the wires B B and afiixed todiametrically-opposite faces of the plug portion 9. hen the connector isinserted in the opening in the neck H extending outwardly from the cover0 and its shoulder g abuts against the edge of the neck, its taperingplug portion g will be engaged in the socket of the cut-out block E. Inorder, however, to guide the plug portion g into the socket so that anelectrical contact will take place between the contact-strips g g of theconnector G and the contact-pieces e e on the cut-out block, theconnector is provided with diametrically opposite radial studs g whichare guided by means of opposite guidegrooves 7L in the neck G into aninternal annular groove h in the neck, said studs taking into the groovewhen the connector is rotated. By a forward quarter-rotation of theconnector G a like rotation is imparted to the cutout block E, so thatthe latter is moved from the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the bareteeth of the block are engaged by the springcontacts F F, to that shownin Fig. 1, in which a contact is established between the outer ends ofthe contact-pieces 6 and the spring-eontacts. The current from the mainwires A A can now pass into the wires B B, so that the lamp will belighted or the motor started,as the case may be. In this position of thecut-out block and the connector the latter cannot be removed from thecasing until an additional forward quarter-rotation is imparted thereto,so as to bring the studs g 9 again into register with the guide-grooves7'1. in the neck H. This arrangement insures a safe and positivemechanical and electrical connection of the connector with the cut-outblock, for the connection cannot he accidentally broken, as theconnector cannot be rotated backward, and the pressure of thespring-contacts against the cut-out block must be overcome in order tomove the same forward.

When the connector is removed from the casing a screw-threaded cap I isscrewed onto the screw-threaded neck H, so as to exclude dust and dirt.The cap is attached to the casing by means of a short chain 1', so as tobe always at hand.

The combined advantages of the construction described above are that tomake a connection by the insertion of the plug a com pound movementconsisting of an inward and a rotary movement is necessary, and hence itwould be a very difficult matter for persons of meddlesome mind to makea connection by any other means than by the proper plug, that after theconnection has been made the plug cannot be drawn out by any direct pullon the wires liable to take place in some cases, that the contacts ofthe plug are arranged in the casing so that they are not exposed norliable to be damaged by rain or water, especially when the cap isscrewed on, and that when provided with a properly-constructed plug anyunskilled person can easily make the connection.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination, with a casing containing arotatable ratchet-toothed cut-out block, provided with a central socketand having contact-pieces extending from opposite points in the socketto opposite points on the teeth, and spring-contacts connected with theleading-in wires, of a connector having a plug provided withdiametrically-opposite contactstrips, and adapted to be inserted intosaid socket, means for preventing the direct removal of the connectorfrom the casing when an electrical connection is made, andconducting-wires secured to the connector and connected to thecontact-strips, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a casing provided with a cover having a neckprojecting outwardly therefrom, said neck having an in ternal annulargroove and opposite guidegrooves leading from the end of the neck to theannular groove, a rotatable ratchet-toothed cut-out block j ournaled inthe casin g and provided with a central socket, diametrical contact'pieces applied to the cut-out block and extending from the socketto the outer faces of teeth, and spring-contacts connected with theleading-in wires, of a connector having a plug provided withdiametrically-opposite contactstrips, and adapted to be inserted intosaid socket, radial studs projecting from the connector and adapted totake into the grooves for the purpose described, and conductingwiressecured to the connector and connected to the contact-strips,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. F. NEVINS.

\Vitnesses G. M. VAN SAUN, A. W. SPROULE.

IIO

